This year is the 250th birthday of the United States. That makes it the perfect time to initiate lessons and programs that explore America’s history, celebrate our national symbols, and spotlight notable people, places, and events.
Washington, D.C. as a centerpiece of learning
Last summer, I took part in the White House History Teacher Institute, a five-day, place-based learning program for K-12 teachers in Washington, D.C. The week featured a slate of fascinating topics, including functions and history of the White House, primary source photos and documents, American diplomacy, contributions of enslaved people, and inquiry-based learning techniques.
This outstanding professional development opportunity, sponsored by the White House Historical Association, featured guest speakers, interactive simulations. and hands-on activities. Participants were under the mentorship of master teachers who shared resources, demonstrated teaching strategies, and led small-group, grand-band discussions.
The highlights of the experience were the field trips in and around Washington, D.C., which included:
- A two-hour, VIP tour of the White House led by staff curators
- A visit to The People’s House, an interactive museum focused on the history and function of the White House, which includes a full-size replica of the Oval Office and the Resolute Desk
- Tours of historical homes such as Decatur House and Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’s home
- An educational tour of the National Portrait Gallery, which was filled with inquiry-based activities in engaging with art
I maximized my time in the city and squeezed in visits to several locations I highly recommend to book lovers such as Planet Word museum, the Library of Congress, the DAR Library and Museum, and the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Interested in applying to attend this outstanding program? Visit the White House History Teacher Institute website to learn more. The application requires a resume, a letter of support from a supervisor, and essays explaining what you hope to gain and how attending will enhance your teaching.
High-interest topics in American history
Since returning home from the White House History Teacher Institute, I have been working to translate what I learned and experienced into engaging learning opportunities for my students. Below are some books and lessons I’ve used to connect students to American history and encourage civic engagement.
Fly Guy Visits the White House by Tedd Arnold is an interesting and informative look at an important national symbol. My favorite pages list the interesting elements of the White House like its movie theater, bowling alley, and the number of bathrooms.
When I read this book to students, I shared my personal photos from visiting the White House, which made my students feel more connected to the topic. I also played a fantastic YouTube video called What’s Inside the White House, which uses 3D animation to show what’s located on each floor.
I chose Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard by Steve Metzger because it has a local connection to my home state of Kansas. This is the true story of a young girl named Grace Bedell who wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln when he was running for president and suggested that if he grew a beard, he would get more votes. Students become invested in the story because it centers on a child, but when they find out Grace moved to Kansas after she got married and is buried here, the local connection ratchets up the relevance.
I learned about Grace Bedell because my college roommate is from Delphos, Kansas, where they have a monument to Bedell. I showed students photos of the monument along with images of the primary source letters written by Bedell and President Lincoln.
As an extension activity, you can invite students to write a letter to the president talking about an issue that is important to them, or write an “If I were president” essay.
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle is another true story about a personal connection between a child and a president. The book recounts how Teresa’s family has to flee Venezuela due to violence and came to the United States as refugees. Teresa was a gifted pianist and was invited to the White House to play for President Lincoln.
When sharing this book with students, I like to pause on the page where Teresa is performing in the Red Room of the White House and pull up my photos of visiting the Red Room. There has been a Red Room in the White House since the 1840s, which is almost 200 years ago. We talk about how the White House is also called the People’s House and how visitors can see with their own eyes the places where so much history has happened. My experience visiting the White House helps to make this story feel personally relevant to my students.
In addition, the way the illustrator uses color to depict music, mood, and emotion in the story gives us a lot to discuss during read-aloud time.
The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock tells how Yosemite, our first national park, was established. This is a great time to bring in programming about National Parks in the form of video or photo tours, books, guest speakers, and research projects.
The National Park Service offers a Junior Ranger program that allows kids to complete activities that help them learn about each park to earn a badge. Some locations let kids earn a Junior Ranger badge virtually without having to visit the park in person, which is helpful for students without the opportunity to travel.
The National Park Service Educator portal offers a variety of resources including lesson plans, primary sources, virtual field trips, traveling trunks, and professional development opportunities.
Civics & Voting
Last fall, our county clerk contacted me asking if I could set up a time when she could read to students to teach them about the voting process. She was awarded a grant for a “Cookies with the Clerk” program where she was visiting each elementary school in our county, reading aloud to students and donating the books to the school library, and giving out cookies.
The books she read were excellent, and I loved making a connection with our community election officer. Students learned a lot, and we have added two excellent books to our collection. One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote You Vote: All About Voting by Bonnie Worth is written in the style of Dr. Seuss and is well-suited for grades K-3.
For grades 4-7, Don Brown’s graphic novel We the People! from the Big Ideas That Changed the World series is ideal. Our guest read portions of it aloud, and students learned volumes about the history of democracy and why it’s so important. After the assembly, a fifth-grade social studies teacher asked to check the book out from the library to use in class.
Virtual field trips
If you don’t live close enough to take your students to see the wonders of Washington, D.C., in person, a virtual field trip is the next best thing.
- White House 360 Degree Virtual Tour
- White House Video Tour
- National Mall Gateway – virtual tour, videos, and resources about monuments and memorials
Further resources
Interested in learning more? Take a look at “Bringing Washington, D.C.’s Historical Landscape into Your Library,” which is a 40-minute webcast (free to view, but email registration is required) along with a pdf that lists recommended books and resource links.
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